Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater vs ATA Career Education: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater comes closer — median earnings $34,627 against a $87,728 total, vs $34,577 at ATA Career Education. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater | ATA Career Education |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,932 | $28,250 |
| Total net cost | $87,728 | $113,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,627 | $34,577 |
| Median debt | — | $21,030 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$362,388 | -$388,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater or ATA Career Education?
Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater, at $21,932 a year after aid versus $28,250 — a gap of $6,318 a year, or $25,272 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater or ATA Career Education graduates earn more?
Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater graduates report a median $34,627 ten years after entry, $50 more than the $34,577 at ATA Career Education. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at ATA Career Education, against 52% at Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.